UFC 167: Undercard Predictions

Gian Villante (10-4) vs. Cody Donovan (8-3)

Frankly, I’m not sure why the UFC picked Villante-Donovan to set the show’s tone with some higher-paced pairings out there, but on the bright side both men have finished the vast majority of opponents they’ve beaten meaning odds are good a stoppage will come into play. Villante has an advantage when it comes to stand-up and athleticism, plus he’ll be hungry to pick up his first UFC win after falling in his debut, so expect an aggressive approach to victory ultimately netting him a strike-based stoppage. / PREDICTION: Gian Villante def. Cody Donovan via TKO

Sergio Pettis (9-0) vs. Will Campuzano (13-4)

Pettis has a lot of expectations on his shoulders coming into the UFC as the unbeaten little brother of lightweight champion Anthony Pettis. The 20-year old has looked sharp on the regional scene but Campuzano represents the toughest opponent he’s faced to date. The WEC/UFC veteran is on a five-fight run and can fight from any position. Working in Pettis’ favor, Campuzano is a late replacement who is coming off a Split Decision in October and isn’t likely to be 100%. He should turn in a valiant effort but fall short on the scorecards based on the likelihood of Pettis landing more offense. / PREDICTION: Sergio Pettis def. Will Campuzano via Split Decision

Jason High (17-4) vs. Anthony Lapsley (22-5)

Fans who aren’t into grappling should use this bout as a break for going to the bathroom or fixing a fresh snack. Though High and Lapsley certainly have the power to render opponents defenseless with strikes, each is a wrestler by trade and finished far more foes by way of submission than stand-up. Their bout should be closely-contested with High ending up as victor based on superior BJJ. After all, four of Lapsley’s five losses have been the result of a tap out. / PREDICTION: Jason High def. Anthony Lapsley via Submission

Erik Perez (13-5) vs. Edwin Figueroa (9-3)

Figueroa has nothing to lose when it comes to his collision with Perez and needs to go for broke in the bout if hoping to win. Otherwise, “El Goyito” will pick “El Feroz” apart and that’s “no bueno” when it comes to Figueroa’s future in the Octagon. He’s lost his last two tilts and can’t afford a third straight stumble. Unfortunately for his friends, fans, and family, Figueroa’s attack isn’t quite as polished as Perez’s and he doesn’t have the defense to deal with his adversary’s well-rounded attack. / PREDICTION: Erik Perez def. Edwin Figueroa via TKO

Brian Ebersole (50-15-1) vs. Rick Story (15-7)

It’s hard to believe Story’s win over Thiago Alves came in mid-2011 when the instance of success seems so much further away based on his performances in the span since. With a 2-4 mark in his last six, the man who beat Johny Hendricks is on the cusp of fighting for his job and has drawn a tough son of a gun in Ebersole. The good-natured grappler has only been stopped with strikes a single time in his 66-fight career and that was to Hector Lombard. He’s got tricky stand-up and slick submissions, both of which are sure to give Story some problems. He may lack Story’s explosiveness, but Ebersole won’t need it to win. Also, throw in the fact Ebersole has been out for a year, and there’s no doubt he’ll be focused and fully prepared. / PREDICTION: Brian Ebersole def. Rick Story via Unanimous Decision

Thales Leites (21-4) vs. Ed Herman (21-9)

Though this fight feels like it should have been made in 2007, Leites and Herman haven’t looked bad as of late either. The former is on a four-fight winning streak and gone 7-1 since being cut by the UFC a few years ago, while “Short Fuse” is 4-1 in his last five fights including three stoppages. When it comes to their tilt, the biggest hole in Herman’s game (submission defense) plays right into Leties’ specialty (BJJ). Six of his nine stumbles have come via submission while Leites can claim 13 tap-outs in 21 total victories. With numbers like that, expect trouble for Herman the minute action hits the mat. / PREDICTION: Thales Leites def. Ed Herman via Submission

Donald Cerrone (20-6) vs. Evan Dunham (14-4)

This bout has “Fight of the Night” potential and shouldn’t be missed if hoping to enter the PPV portion of the event with a big smile brought on by witnessing a spirited scrap. Cerrone and Dunham are both aggressive strikers who happen to find plenty of success on the ground as well. Each is coming off a loss and neither is afraid to bleed, so expect some furious fisticuffs and scrambles on the canvas in hopes of establishing a competitive advantage while also impressing onlookers. Cerrone is a little better than Dunham in all areas, so if he enters the match-up with his head screwed on straight he should find an avenue to victory. / PREDICTION: Donald Cerrone def. Evan Dunham via Unanimous Decision

The preliminary portion of a UFC event can occasionally be treated like little more than a bland crust on top of a delicious pie. However, when it comes to UFC 167 the undercard efforts deserve much more credit, as the lineup is dotted with rising stars and seasoned veterans. Better yet, there are no obvious picks in the bunch, making for what should be a competitive, entertaining set of scraps sure to kick the historic card off on the right note. (Photos by USA Today Sports Images)